Apparatus for attaching paper fasteners



2, 1 F. J. KLINE. 1,869,971

APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING PAPER FASTENERS Filed July 26, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR Fred J ie ATTORNEYS F. J. KLINE 1,869,971

APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING PAPER FASTENERS Aug. 2, 1932,

Filed July 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 80 f K fie BY ATTORNEYSPatented Aug. 2, 1932-.

umrsnsrrns PATENT FRED J. KLINEOF BAYVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOE T0. A000PRODUCTS, INC.,

none IsLAnn oInY, new Yon-n A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR ATTAGHTNG PAPER- FASTENERS Application fi led July 26,

This invention relates to paper fasteners and more particularly to anapparatus for securing such fasteners to sheets, binders, and the likewhich are used in preparing files of correspondence and similar papers.

Paper fasteners comprising a base with two projecting prongs are usedwidely for securing papers in binders and other filing devices. Suchfasteners are made of relatively soft steel, so that the prongs maybeeasily bent. Heretofore it has been neces sary to punch the hinder orother support so as to permit the introduction of the prongs of thefastener. This is a relatively tedious operation, particularly in thepreparation of binders, which are made frequently of pressboard or otherrelatively stiff material.

It is the object'of the present invention to provide a simple andeffective apparatus which facilitates the securing of fasteners tobinders or other sheets in a'single operation in which the prongs of thefastener are forced through the material to which it is secured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as itisbetter understood by reference to the following specifi cation andaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of theapparatus;

Fig. 2 is a plan viewthereofy a Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustratingthe parts in a different position;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the apparas tus Figs. 5 and 6 areenlarged sectional views illustrating the operation of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the application of thefastener to the sheet;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 88 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 is a view inperspective of a fastener adapted for use withtheapparatus.

Referring to the drawings, 5 indicatesa base,'preferably of metal andconstructed to afford sutficient stability. The base carries threelongitudinal rods 6 supporting a transverse plate 7 which is slidablymounted on the rods. A Ushaped bracket 8 is secured 1929. Serial No.381,358.

to the plate 7 and is provided with depending legs 9 engaging thecentral rod 6. A set screw 10 in the bracket 8 likewise engages thecentral rod 6 so that the plate 7 may be held in any adjusted position.An arm 11 extends through an opening in a bracket '12 on the plate 7,and a set screw 13 in the bracket engages the arm 11 to hold it inadjusted position. The end 14: of the arm 11 is upwardly directed toafford a side gauge for the sheet through which the fastener is to beforced. The rear edge of thev sheet rests against the plate 7. The plate7 and the arm 11 may be adjusted in the manner indicated to fix theposition of the sheet, and thus to determine the place at which thefastener is secured thereto. An additional gauge 15 extends through anopening in the base 5 and is held in adjustable position by a set screw16 sup ported in a leg 17 on the base. The upwardly turned end 18 of thegauge 15 may be disposed in alignment with the upwardly turned end 14 ofthe arm 11, thus facilitating the positioning ofthe sheet.

Two upwardly turned legs 19 on the base 15 support a transverselyextending rod 20 forming a bearing for a swinging arm 21. The latter isnormally held in raised position by a coil spring 22, one end 23. ofwhich engages the base while the other end 24 engages a transversemember 25 of the arm 21. A handle 26 is provided at the forward end ofthe arm 21. Re'arwardly of the handle 26 is a hammer 27, preferably aplate secured to and extending transversely of the arm. which is adaptedto drive the fastener 28.

' As indicated in Fig.9, thefastener 28 may comprise a base with twoprongs 29. It may be provided also with two short lugs struck upfrom thebody thereof. The prongs 29 are intended to secure the papers which aresubsequently attached to the sheet through which the fastener is forced.The lugs 30 act as rivets to secure the fastener firmly in place.

The lugs are preferably employed, but may K be omitted as the fastenerwill normally remain in position after the prongs 29 have been forcedthrough the sheet.

Since the fastener is made of relativelysoft metal, it is necessary tosupport the prongs 29 when they are driven through the sheet. For thispurpose I provide, as indicated more particularly in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, aswinging support 31 mounted on a rod 32 which extends transversely ofthe arm 21. The swinging support is provided with two sets of forward lydirected lips 33 spaced a distance equivalent to the spacing between theprongs 29. Each set of lips is spaced sufiiciently to permit the prongs29 to pass therebetween. One each pair of lips 33 is struck inwardly at3a to afford a back stop for the prongs 29. The latter may be adjustedbetween the lips as indicated in Fig. 5, with the base of the fastenerbeneath the hammer 27. The ends of the prongs are then disposed overslots 35 in the base and upon downward movement of the hammer the prongswill be forced through the sheet 36 on the base and into the slots.Owing to the support afforded by the lips 33, the prongs can be forcedthrough relatively thick and tough material such as the press-boardwhich is employed commonly in the manufacture of folders for filing.

The lips 33 are retracted automatically as the hammer 27 descends. Forthis purpose I provide a tail 37 which first engages the sheet 36 on thebed of the apparatus after the ends of the prongs 29 have penetrated thesheet and entered the slots 35. The tail 37 is rounded and is so formedas to cause the support 31 to swing backwardly. The lower edges 38 ofthe lips 33 are likewise rounded, and in turn engage the sheet 36,

' thus continuing the rearward movement of the support 31 as the hammeradvances. Consequently the prongs 29 are released as soon as they havepassed through the sheet 36 into the slots 35 and no longer require thestiffening effect of the lips 33. As the hammer continues to descend,the lugs 30, if such lugs are provided, pass through the sheet 36. Theselugs engage sloping projections 39 on the base of the apparatus whichcause the lugs to be turned as indicated in Fig. 7, thus securing thefastener firmly to the sheet. 'The hammer is then permitted to rise. Thesheet may be withdrawn wi 11 the fastener secured thereto and anothersheet may be substituted.

In placing a fastener in the support 31 it is desirable that the latterremain relatively rigid. I have, therefore, provided a latch 40 pivotedat ll on the arm 21 and having a slot 42 which is adapted to engage apin 43 projecting from the support 31. A toe M on the latch is adaptedto engage the sheet 36 on the bed as the ends of the prongs 29 penetratethe sheet. The latch is thus lifted and the support 31 is released sothat the rearward movement thereof as previously described may beaccomplished at the proper interval. When the arm 21 swings upwardlyagain the pin 43 drops into the notch 42 of the support and is againheld rigidly to permit the introduction of another fastener.

In place of the latch I may employ a coil spring 45 surrounding a rod 32and having an end 46 engaging the hammer 27 while the other end 47engages the support 31. spring holds the support resiliently while thefastener is being inserted. It is to be understood that either the latcha0 or the spring may be utilized for the purpose, or both the spring andlatch may The spring is not necessary, however, to bring the supportinto the proper position, as it will swing by gravity when the arm 21 islifted so as to engage the pin 43 with the notch in the latch 40.

The apparatus as described affords a simple and very effective mechanismfor the rapid application of fasteners to sheets and folders employedfor filing. As indicated, the fasteners may be permanently secured tothe sheets by employing the lugs which penetrate the sheets and are bentso as to secure the fasteners thereto. In the operation of the device,the prongs 29 are firmly held during the initial period, and while theyare piercing the sheet. Bending of the prongs is thereby prevented.Thereafter the prongs are guided by the slots in the base, so thatdestruction of the fasteners is avoided.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction andarrangement of the apparatus as described, without departing from theinvention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a baseand a support'for a paper fastener movable toward the base and havingmeans thereon to engage opposite sides of the prongs of the fastener tohold them in parallel spaced relation, the latter means being pivoted tothe support and adapted to be swung away from the prongs as the supportmoves toward the base.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a baseand a pivoted support for a paper fastener movable toward the base andhaving means thereon to hold the prongs of a paper fastener in parallelspaced relation, ing pivoted to the support and adapted to be swung awayfrom the prongs as the sup-- port moves toward the base.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of abase, an arm pivoted on the base, and a support for a paper fastenermounted on the arm and movable toward the base and having means The beprovided;

the latter means be- 1 ill) thereon. to hold the prongs of a paper fas-V tener in parallel spaced relation. the latter means being pivoted tothe support and adapted to be swung away from the prongs as the supportmoves toward the base.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of abase, a support for a paper fastener movable toward the base and havingmeans thereon to engage opposite sides of the prongs of the fastener tohold them in parallel spaced relation, the latter means being pivoted tothe support and adapted to be swung away from the prongs as the supportmoves toward the base, and means to hold the support in position toreceive the fastener.

5. In'an apparatus of the character described, the combination of abase, asupport for a paper fastener movable toward the base and havingmeans thereon to hold the prongs ofthe paper fastener in parallel spacedrelation, the latter means being adapted to be Withdrawn as the supportmoves toward the base, and means to hold the support in position toreceive the fastener including a latch and a pin adapted to engage thelatch.

6. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of abase, an arm pivoted on the base, a support for a paper fastener mountedon the arm and movable toward the base and having means to hold theprongs of a paper fastener in parallel spaced relation, the latter meansbeing pivoted to the support and adapted to be swung away from theprongs as the support moves towards the base and means to hold thesupport in position to receive the fastener. 7. In an apparatus of thecharacter described, the combination of a base, an arm pivoted on thebase, a support for a paper fastener mounted on the arm and movabletoward the base and having means to hold the prongs of a paper fastenerin parallel spaced relation, the latter means being adapted to bewithdrawn as the support moves towards the base and means to hold thesupport in position to receive the fastener, including a latch on thearm and a pin on the support adapted to engage the latch.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a baseand a support for a paper fastener movable toward the base and havingpivoted means thereon to hold the prongs of a paper fastener in parallelspaced relation, and means associated with said pivoted means adapted toengage the base and swing said pivoted means to withdraw the same fromthe prongs of the fastener.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a baseand a support for a paper fastener movable toward the base and havingpivoted means including two pairs of spaced lips to hold the prongs of apaper fastener in parallel spaced rela tion, and means associated withsaid pivoted means adapted to engage the base and swing said pivotedmeans to withdraw the spaced lips from the prongs of the fastener.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of abase and a support for a paper fastener movable toward the base andhaving means thereon to hold the prongs of a paper fastener in parallelspaced relation, means associated with said pivoted means adapted toengage the base and swing said pivoted means to withdraw the same fromthe prongs of the fastener, and means to hold the support in position toreceive the fastener.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of abase and. a support for a paperfastener movable toward the base andhaving means thereon to hold the prongs of a paper fastener in parallelspaced. relation, means adapted to engage the base whereby the supportis withdrawn, and means to hold the support in position to receive thefastener, including a latch and a pin adapted to engage the latch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRED J. KLINE.

